Explorations in Normative Linguistics (Supplement)

Author: Dai Zhaoming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-12-01
Features: Dai Zhaoming's outstanding characteristic in academic research is his inclination toward metaphysical theoretical speculation. He often delves into even the most ordinary problems with meticulous inquiry, pushing them to the brink of being overly pedantic. This fully demonstrates his unconventional attitude, which sometimes seems excessive, as if he is deliberately making sensational statements. However, after carefully reading his articles, one cannot help but admire his thorough thinking, precise analysis, and the profound insights he achieves. Nevertheless, when faced with difficult problems for which he has no certain solutions, he never overpromises or claims knowledge he does not possess. I believe this is the academic integrity a scholar should have (though it is also rare). Therefore, when we accepted the research project on Chinese language standardization under the "Seventh Five-Year Plan" a decade ago, I, as the project leader, assigned the theoretical discussion part to him based on this understanding. Now, it appears this arrangement was appropriate, and the publication of this book is proof of that. Most of the chapters in this book are the results of Dai Zhaoming's theoretical research on language standardization, which have made significant contributions to solving related problems. For example, in the mid-1980s, the chaos in the application of Chinese language and literature was particularly severe, and debates among linguists about language standardization were also very intense. However, even those who advocated standardization were not entirely clear about what standardization meant or what it aimed to regulate. Generally, standardization was believed to mean correcting errors and restoring proper usage, with the object of standardization being linguistic errors. Dai Zhaoming, by synthesizing the history of linguistic evolution in ancient and modern China and the successes and failures of language standardization research, wrote the article "Standardization—Evaluating and Choosing Language Change," where he first proposed that the object of standardization is language change itself, and standardization is the evaluation and choice of language change. This thereby negated the simplistic model of standardization that focused solely on correcting errors and proposed a new dynamic concept and model of standardization. From a theoretical perspective, raising and resolving these two issues is of great significance to the linguistic field, as it enhances the scientificity, operability, and credibility of language standardization work. For Dai Zhaoming personally, this also holds great significance, as it allowed his subsequent series of papers and arguments—whether theoretical, historical, or applied—to form a coherent system rather than being disjointed and spontaneous. The aforementioned papers, along with another article titled "Language Habits, Customary Usage, and Language Description," had a broad impact in the linguistic field and sparked related discussions, elevating China's theoretical standards in language standardization to an internationally recognized level. Between the 1980s and 1990s, Dai Zhaoming's theoretical explorations and academic value in language standardization research were recognized by the linguistic community, and relevant content was included in the book "History of Theoretical Linguistics in China" by Shao Jingmin and Fang Jingmin.
[Preface] Dai Zhaoming's book "Explorations in Standardized Linguistics" is about to be published, and I believe this is a cause for joy and importance for those who study language standardization, especially Chinese language standardization. Over 30 years ago, I had the honor of being a student under Dai Zhaoming. This diligent and thoughtful student, who often raised thought-provoking questions and found answers on his own, left a deep impression on me. Since the 1980s, we have had the fortune of working together academically in the same institution, allowing us to frequently discuss professional issues, engage in repeated deliberation, and challenge each other. Thus, I have gained a unique understanding of his academic thoughts and pursuits. Now, at Dai Zhaoming's request, I have been asked to write the preface, and I am both pleased and honored to take this opportunity to discuss the characteristics of his academic research and the value of this book.
Dai Zhaoming's outstanding characteristic in academic research is his inclination toward metaphysical theoretical speculation. He often delves into even the most ordinary problems with meticulous inquiry, pushing them to the brink of being overly pedantic. This fully demonstrates his unconventional attitude, which sometimes seems excessive, as if he is deliberately making sensational statements. However, after carefully reading his articles, one cannot help but admire his thorough thinking, precise analysis, and the profound insights he achieves. Nevertheless, when faced with difficult problems for which he has no certain solutions, he never overpromises or claims knowledge he does not possess. I believe this is the academic integrity a scholar should have (though it is also rare). Therefore, when we accepted the research project on Chinese language standardization under the "Seventh Five-Year Plan" a decade ago, I, as the project leader, assigned the theoretical discussion part to him based on this understanding. Now, it appears this arrangement was appropriate, and the publication of this book is proof of that. Most of the chapters in this book are the results of Dai Zhaoming's theoretical research on language standardization, which have made significant contributions to solving related problems. For example, in the mid-1980s, the chaos in the application of Chinese language and literature was particularly severe, and debates among linguists about language standardization were also very intense. However, even those who advocated standardization were not entirely clear about what standardization meant or what it aimed to regulate. Generally, standardization was believed to mean correcting errors and restoring proper usage, with the object of standardization being linguistic errors. Dai Zhaoming, by synthesizing the history of linguistic evolution in ancient and modern China and the successes and failures of language standardization research, wrote the article "Standardization—Evaluating and Choosing Language Change," where he first proposed that the object of standardization is language change itself, and standardization is the evaluation and choice of language change. This thereby negated the simplistic model of standardization that focused solely on correcting errors and proposed a new dynamic concept and model of standardization. From a theoretical perspective, raising and resolving these two issues is of great significance to the linguistic field, as it enhances the scientificity, operability, and credibility of language standardization work. For Dai Zhaoming personally, this also holds great significance, as it allowed his subsequent series of papers and arguments—whether theoretical, historical, or applied—to form a coherent system rather than being disjointed and spontaneous. The aforementioned papers, along with another article titled "Language Habits, Customary Usage, and Language Description," had a broad impact in the linguistic field and sparked related discussions, elevating China's theoretical standards in language standardization to an internationally recognized level. Between the 1980s and 1990s, Dai Zhaoming's theoretical explorations and academic value in language standardization research were recognized by the linguistic community, and relevant content was included in the book "History of Theoretical Linguistics in China" by Shao Jingmin and Fang Jingmin.
Dai Zhaoming's academic research is characterized by a strong theoretical foundation without engaging in empty talk. This is another commendable aspect of his work. In the 1980s, the liberation of thought led to unprecedented academic vitality, and many new ideas and perspectives emerged—a truly positive development. However, like other fields, the linguistic community also had some scholars who aspired to build fundamental theories and entirely new systems. While this can be understood as a pursuit of self-value in academia, to be honest, those who rushed to establish flags before conditions were ripe ended up with high-sounding frameworks but few supporting examples. Some works were even so abstract that they were difficult to understand after repeated readings. Dai Zhaoming, however, was different. In theoretical exploration, his papers always stood on solid linguistic facts, allowing for careful and clear thinking, making them easy to read and withstand scrutiny. For example, regarding the rationality of idiomatic usage and the descriptive aspects of language standardization, as well as how to view language habits and customary usage, Dai Zhaoming's views were criticized by some scholars. However, after reading both sides of the debate, I believe the linguistic facts still tend to support Dai Zhaoming. This is because idiomatic usage is part of the language system and has actually become an objective norm. The opinions of linguists on standardization are merely subjective norms, which can only be accepted and valued by linguistic practice when they align with objective norms. If we do not recognize the rationality of idiomatic usage or the role of customary usage, where would we draw and establish normative standards from? As the introduction to this book states, language standardization is rooted in the language itself, not imposed upon it from the outside. The standards for language standardization can only be extracted from the language system itself, not based on the subjective intentions of linguists. This necessitates recognizing idiomatic usage, acknowledging the power of customary usage, and acknowledging the role and status of language description in determining standards.
Dai Zhaoming's third characteristic in academic research is a broad perspective and insightful understanding. He often starts where previous scholars left off, integrating ancient and modern knowledge, uncovering hidden truths, and discovering patterns from vast amounts of material. This allows him to see far and think deeply, making new discoveries that predecessors had not made. For example, regarding the ancient Chinese language standardization issue, previous articles were mostly historical discussions, and modern terms for standardization were used to explain the linguistic views of ancient scholars, leading to inevitable inconsistencies. After years of painstaking effort, Dai Zhaoming finally uncovered a persistent concept of standardization held by ancient Chinese literati over two thousand years—the concept of "elegance and correctness." In the article "Elegance and Correctness: The Core Category of Ancient Chinese Language Standardization Theory," the author meticulously analyzes the origin, formation, development, and rigidification of this concept, employing a method of outlining key points and unraveling layers of complexity. The author's meticulous thinking, sharp insight, and fluent writing make the article truly remarkable. Another example is the article "Popularization and Massification: The Theoretical Framework of Modern Chinese Language Standardization," which discusses "the duality of elegance and popularization" as a "dialectical contradiction in linguistic evolution." Since the previous article addressed the drawbacks of excessive pursuit of elegance, this one uses the example of vernacular literature to prove the harm of excessive popularization. The conclusion drawn is that language standardization should be an ongoing process of "adapting to popular trends while maintaining elegance." I believe this is indeed the most appropriate argument regarding this academic issue.
This book has many other strengths, but due to space constraints, I cannot elaborate on them all. In summary, it is a valuable academic work. In today's environment where scholarly pursuits are undervalued and academic books are difficult to publish, Shanghai Sanlian Bookstore's decision to accept this book despite its modest profit margins is truly commendable. "To have one true friend in life is enough," but Dai Zhaoming has more than one. Dai Zhaoming has toiled tirelessly on this arduous path for many years, and now he has reaped joyful rewards. I am both relieved and fortunate that such a high-quality work has emerged in this academic field. I sincerely hope that Dai Zhaoming will continue to climb, expand his research areas, and make greater contributions to China's linguistic cause.